Christian Aid Nepal Earthquake Appeal: An Evocation. An inspiring event seeking to evoke some of the thoughts, feelings, sentiments and consciousness of the years preceding and following the First World War, through words and music of the time from the UK and beyond. Performances, both sacred and secular, will include wind and string ensembles, organ, piano, violin and song, and feature St Mary’s Music School String Ensemble and Sirocco Winds, both award-winning performers, together with readings from the period. 1-2.30pm and 5-9.30pm, St John’s Church, Princes Street. All-day tickets cost £10. For more information please contact Alastair Guild at anevocation@gmail.com.
Polish Bookbug: a special session for the annual Bookbug Week. This year’s theme is Bookbug’s Big Bedtime Story. Fun, songs, rhymes and stories for children aged 0-4 years and their parents and carers. 11-11.30am, Piershill Library, Piershill Terrace.
Scotland’s Open Gardens: Broadwoodside. A garden planted in and around a farm steading, rescued from dereliction. Two sheltered courtyards are encircled by the old buildings; outside the planting extends into the surrounding farmland and woods on an ambitious scale. ‘One of Scotland’s finest contemporary private gardens’ (Scotland for Gardeners 2014). 2-6pm, Broadwoodside, Gifford EH41 4JQ. £5 person, of which 40% will go to Cancer Research Scotland and the net remainder to SG beneficiaries.
Christian Aid Week Coffee Morning: cake and candy stall, tombola, 99p bazaar, potted plant bonanza, books, toys and children’s activities (and coffee…).10am-12 noon, Queensferry Parish Church Centre, The Loan. Admission £2.
Gaelic Writing Workshop with author Martin MacIntyre: one of a series of workshops arranged by the Scottish Book Trust in association with its Journeys campaign to get Scotland writing. Each session will offer advice, writing practice and inspiration to writers of all levels in a relaxed environment. 11am-12.30pm, Scottish Book Trust, Sandeman House, Trunk’s Close, 55 High Street. Free but booking is essential: please email frances.campbell@scottishbooktrust.com or call 0131 524 0170.
Christian Aid Week Coffee Morning: hot rolls and home baking. 10.30am-12 noon, St Michael’s Parish Church, 1 Slateford Road.
Kidnapped: When Kilts were Banned. Discover Robert Louis Stevenson’s timeless tale in Donald Smith’s exhilarating, gutsy adaptation; let two actors, a chest and your imagination take you on an exciting, fast-moving and adventure-filled story for all the family as young Davie Balfour leaves home for the first time, only to be double-crossed by his devious uncle and find himself kidnapped. Directed by Gavin Paul. 2.30pm, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £8/£6 and may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579. In association with Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust.
The Vintage Kilo Sale: over 5 tonnes of quality mixed vintage fashion and accessories. £15 per kilo, with stock replenished throughout the day. 11am-4pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Early bird admission (11am-12 noon) £3, then £1.50.
150 Years of Alice in Wonderland: activities, games and fun to celebrate Alice’s 150th birthday. Come in fancy dress if you like! The event will be followed by a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, which is free but ticketed as places are limited – call 0131 226 2666 for more information, or ask in the shop. From 2pm, Waterstones West End, Princes Street.
Strawberry Tea: tombola, cake and candy, books. 2-4pm, St Mark’s Parish Church, Portobello. £2 per person (children free).
This May Hurt…Medical Procedures from the Thompson-Walker Collection: a talk taking a look at some medical procedures that will make your toes curl and your hair stand on end! The Thompson-Walker Collection, part of the University of Edinburgh Art Collection, was amassed by Sir John William Thompson-Walker (1871-1937), a surgeon and print collector from Newport in Fife. This collection of engraved portraits of medical men is one of the largest of its kind in Scotland; along with portraiture it includes depictions of some ‘interesting’ medical procedures – so sit back, relax and thank your lucky stars that you live in the 21st century! 1-2pm, Anatomy Lecture Theatre, University of Edinburgh, Doorway 3, Medical School, Teviot Place. Tickets are free and may be booked via eventbrite here. The Anatomy Museum will remain open 2-4.30pm for those who hold tickets to this event, which forms part of Scotland’s Festival of Museums 2015.
Fascinating Plants: come and celebrate the wonderful diversity of plants with staff from the Botanics. A rare opportunity to see some unusual plants and discover why they can be so varied in their appearance. 1-4pm, Real Life Science Studion, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. Free and suitable for all ages. Also at same times on Sunday 17th May 2015. This event is part of Fascination of Plants Day 2015.
Rainforest Adventure: jump into the canoe, hold the oar and travel deep into the rainforest with Brazilian storyteller Ana Maria Lines. With tales and songs, Ana will lead you on a magical adventure on the Amazon river, where every flower, bird and fish has a story to tell. For ages 6-10 years. 10.30am, Storytelling Court, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £6 per child, accompanying adult free, and may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579. Please remember to book a free adult ticket as well as your child’s ticket.
IberoDocs: the second Scottish Ibero-American Documentary Film Festival, continues today. Tickets for all screenings may be purchased from the Filmhouse Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online. Today’s films are:
(1) Viking Land/Terra de Vikingos (15) (in Galician and German with English subtitles). A found-footage compilation taken from VHS tapes that director Xurzo Chirro stumbled across – tapes containing 16 hours of material shot 20 years ago by a Galician working on a ferry crossing from Denmark to Germany – which he then edited into ‘chapters’ inspired by Melville’s Moby Dick: ‘an elemental journey into the nature of bygone images, and also a chartless navigation into the meaning of creative authorship’. Plus short: Pettring by Eloy Dominguez Seren. 3.10pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. This screening will be followed by a Q & A session with Vikingland producer Beli Martinez.
(2) The Salt of the Earth/Le sel de la terre (12A) (in French, Portugese and English with English subtitles): for the last 40 years, photographer Sebastio Salgado has been travelling through the continents, witnessing some of the major events of recent history – he is now embarking on the discovery of pristine territories, of wild fauna and flora, and of grandiose landscapes, as part of a huge project which is a tribute to the planet’s beauty. 8.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road.
Morningside Farmers’ Market: fresh, local, seasonal goods direct from the producers. Refreshments for sale throughout the market and in The Merlin. 9.30am-3.30pm, The Merlin (rear car park), 168 Morningside Road.
Nothing But The Poem: Tomas Transtromer. A reading and discussion session about the work of the Nobel Prize-winning Swedish poet, with poet Kate Hendry – no previous knowledge or experience necessary! Please note that the poet will be present on paper only. 11am or 2pm, The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close, 22 High Street. Tickets cost £5/£4 and may be purchased via eventbrite here.
St Bride’s Family Cinema: see your favourite films for free! Adventure, excitement, fun and laughs – it’s all here. Choc ices and juice are available to purchase during the interval for 50p. This week’s film is Basil The Great Mouse Detective (U). Please note that all children under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by an adult. 10.30am-12.30pm (including interval), St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace. All welcome: no booking required.
The Storyteller, The Boy and the Road of Legends: Tim Porteous introduces you to the stories and legends that pave the route to Loch Ness, Scotland’s most famous loch. A powerful and moving performance, laced with humour, from this seasoned storyteller, who tells of a journey with his young companion; all is not as it seems as the stories begin to reveal truths for them both – what awaits them at Loch Ness will destroy a world and perhaps create a new one. For ages 16+. 7.30pm, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £8/£6 and may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579.
Heart and Soul: Living Stones. The Church of Scotland’s large-scale celebratory event to coincide with the beginning of the General Assembly: exhibitors, two stages of featured performances, 60+ congregations from all over Scotland, youth space, kids’ marquee and much more, with a closing worship service at the open-air Ross Theatre at 5pm. 2-6pm, Princes Street Gardens (with some events in St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, 5 Lothian Road). Free: all welcome.
Sofi’s Beatles Night: live music with resident pianist Olly Farrell. 7pm, Sofi’s Bar, Henderson Street.
Edinburgh Society of Musicians: guitar students of Simon Thacker play Bach, Ravel and music from Argentina, Cuba, Peru and Brazil. 7.30pm (prompt), Edinburgh Society of Musicians, 3 Belford Road. The Edinburgh Society of Musicians was founded in 1887; it promotes practical music-making in the city and arranges chamber music recitals every Saturday from October to June. Admission is free.
Loud and Proud: Scotland’s LGBT Choir. A spring concert celebrating ‘a glorious history of glamour performances since 2005’ with special guests the Ostergok Choir (Sweden). 8pm, Stockbridge Parish Church, Saxe Coburg Place. Tickets cost £10/£7 and may be purchased by calling 0131 473 2000 or online from Hub Tickets here.
3 Straight Heads: tunes and fun. 8pm, Skylark Cafe, 241 Portobello High Street.
LGBT: T Time in Edinburgh. An informal social gathering open to all transgender people and supporters. Come along for tea/coffee and a chat in a friendly, relaxed environment.
An optional event runs alongside each T Time – today this will be a screening of a trans-themed short or feature film and time for discussion afterwards. 1-4pm (film 2-3.30pm), LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information please contact Jules Stapleton Barnes on 0131 523 1104 or at jules@lgbthealth.org.uk.
A Scandal in Surgeons’ Hall: an evening of dark entertainment with music, dancing, magic and mystery all included! A scandalous evening of surprise and suspense inspired by the collections from The Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh and the University of Edinburgh Anatomy Museum. Dance the night away with the ceilidh band, solve a mystery with the Victorian crime scene, let a fortune teller tell you what your future holds, be amazed by the magician – and much more. Expect to see the dark side of the collections…and of Edinburgh itself. You are invited to dress to impress in a Victorian/Steampunk outfit. For over 18s only. 7.30-11pm, Quincentenary Building, Surgeons’ Hall, Nicolson Street. Tickets cost £10 (students £8) and may be purchased via eventbrite here. This event forms part of Scotland’s Festival of Museums 2015.
Knockhill McRae Rally Challenge. Here’s your second opportunity to escape the city this weekend: a special rally festival to mark the 20th anniversary of Colin McRae’s 1995 World Rally Championship win. This will be the biggest single-venue rally event ever seen at Knockhill; a 30 mile ten stage rally plus – in association with Coltness Car Club – a showcase of some of Colin’s iconic competition cars, including the 1995 Championship-winning Subaru. Knockhill Racing Circuit, by Dunfermline, KY12 9TF. Tickets (for single days, the weekend, camping and caravan parking) may be booked online here or by calling 01383 723 337. Events continue on Sunday 17th May.
